All We Have (Thirty-Eight #4)

by Len Webster

  “There she is,” Daniel said, lifting his sunglasses up to his head and smiling at her. “I’ll give you both a minute. Race starts soon.”

  Rob turned to her and his hands were on her shoulders. “Are you okay? Not feeling sick or anything?”

  She shook her head. “No. I’m just nervous.”

  He laughed and pulled her in for a chaste kiss. “I’m the one competing, Allison.”

  “I know,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “I still can’t believe you’re competing at Worlds.”

  “Yeah. I got selected for Worlds because I had the best PB and my finishing times were consistent. Plus, they knew I could easily qualify Australia for the Olympics like I did in the semi-finals. With our lovely national champion, Aaron ‘Petenski’ Brice, injured, they knew I was the only one with enough experience to get that qualifying spot,” he explained.

  Ally pulled back. “You’re so cocky for someone who just came back from a transplant surgery and is now competing at Worlds.”

  Rob shifted his hands from her shoulders to the nape of her neck. “Can I ask you something?”

  His light blue eyes shimmered, taking her breath away. The sight before her, the man she loved, was far more beautiful than the lake or the French countryside. Only him.

  “Yes,” she said, tilting her head up at him.

  “Can I have my wife at the finishing line?” he asked.

  She raised her brow. “You got married recently?”

  His nose grazed against hers. “On Bow Bridge in New York, I did. Eloped with the most beautiful woman in the world.”

  Her fluttering heart had persuaded the silly grin she made. “Okay. She’ll be there.”

  “Wearing her ring?” This time, his eyebrow shot upwards.

  “Only if you wear yours.”

  “Deal,” he whispered.

  Ally stepped out of his arms and pulled her long necklace from inside her shirt. She unclasped it and pulled her wedding ring off the chain. The ring had belonged to Rob’s mother. Ally’s wedding ring was a white gold, cushion-cut sapphire with diamonds on the band that she had resized while in New York. The plan to elope had been her idea. She had promised him a proper wedding but wanted something private and just for them. She knew that no matter how much the paparazzi had backed off since her transplant, they’d want in on her wedding day.

  So they eloped.

  Serge and Frankie had been their witnesses.

  Rob had mirrored her and pulled his long chain to reveal his white gold wedding ring. It was simple. He hadn’t wanted anything flamboyant or expensive. Handing her husband her wedding ring, Ally held out her left hand to him.

  “You still going to stay married to me if I don’t win?”

  “I suppose,” she teased as he slipped her wedding ring back on her finger.

  Ally watched Rob take his wedding ring off his chain and handed it to her. Then Ally held his ring. “You still going to stay married to me if you don’t win?”

  She didn’t wait for his answer; she had slipped that ring on his finger before he could change his mind. Though he couldn’t. Legally, he was hers and she was his.

  Mr and Mrs Moors.

  What a pair they made.

  Ally took the chain from her husband and looped her arms around him, kissing him deeply. His mouth, the mouth she wanted on hers for the rest of her life. She’d have made a million deals to keep this man. The man who gave her a kidney. The man who loved her. And the man who would have given up his career for her.

  Her husband.

  “Time’s up,” Daniel interrupted. “I kinda need my athlete back, Ally.”

  “Fine,” she grumbled against Rob’s lips and then pulled back. “I’ll see you at the finish line.”

  She shot her husband’s coach a smile and then made her way back to where she had left Stevie. But this time, Stevie had a grin on her face and her arms crossed over chest.

  “Did you just get engaged?” she asked.

  Ally shook her head and walked past her towards the spectator’s stand.

  “Ally!” Stevie shouted, catching up with her.

  When Ally reached the stand that overlooked the beautiful clear lake, she spun around and faced Stevie.

  “I’m not engaged,” she stated.

  Stevie’s smile faltered. She appeared upset by the news. Grabbing Ally’s left hand, Stevie squinted at the ring on her finger. “Sure as hell looks like an engagement ring.”

  Ally bit back a laugh. Then she decided since she and Rob would reveal the news later tonight, it wouldn’t hurt to tell one person now.

  “I’m married, Stevie,” she revealed.

  Her best friend gasped as she dropped Ally’s hand. “C’est pas vria!” Stevie shook her head. “I said, ‘it’s not true.’ In a ‘no way’ kinda expression.”

  Ally laughed as she peeked at her wedding ring. Definitely not traditional how she and Rob became man and wife but that was what she loved the most about it.

  “Yeah, we eloped while we were in New York to see my specialist.”

  Stevie wrapped her arms around her. “Congratulations, Ally!” Then she pulled back, eyeing her. “We’re like sister-in-laws … Well, when I marry Julian someday.”

  “You’re my sister-in-law … Wow,” Ally breathed. “Wait. That means … Julian’s my brother-in-law …”

  Stevie grinned and said, “Good luck with that,” as she grabbed her hand. “Come on. Your husband is about to become World Champion! We can’t let his wife miss it.”

  When they reached the stands, Ally situated herself between her husband’s father and Julian. Arthur gave her a smile, and he glanced down to see the ring. His eyes met hers, and she could see his tears forming.

  He whispered, “Welcome to the family, Allison.”

  “Thanks, Arthur. Why am I so nervous?”

  He laughed. “It’s your first time watching him race.”

  “OH! They’ve just made the announcement for his event!” Julian yelled, pointing at the docks where the boats were attached. Someday, she’d get the rowing terminology correct. For now, everything was ‘boat’ and ‘oar’ to Ally.

  Ally stood there, watching and listening. After almost twenty minutes of watching Rob sitting in his boat, she heard the two-minute warning bell. Then the announcement of the competitors’ names. When Rob’s was called out that he was representing Australia, Julian screamed and started tugging on her arm.

  “THAT’S MY BROTHER!” Then his fists were in the air. “ROB, I’LL DISOWN YOU IF YOU CHOKE!”

  It wasn’t as if Rob could hear him, but Ally had and she laughed. Then a loud bang had signalled that the race had begun.

  Rob was in lane five and started strongly, just taking the lead. But then as quickly as she blinked, the other competitors caught up.

  “What is he?” she asked Arthur.

  “Second,” he said calmly. “He’s started strong. He’ll finish strong.”

  “First five hundred, he’s sitting second. This is good,” Julian told her. “I will disown you, Robert! Come on!”

  Ally looked out at the other competitors; the rower in lane four was neck and neck with Rob while the rower in lane three was in the lead. She couldn’t imagine the thoughts he was having. Ally was a nervous wreck. She just wanted him to finish in a position that would make him happy.

  “He’s breaking away!” Arthur shouted after they’d passed the one thousand marker.

  The crowd around them found their voice. Cheers and hollers were made, and it was almost deafening. But it was intoxicating and exhilarating.

  “Come on, Robbie!” Ally shouted in support of her husband. She was biassed. There was no shame in that.

  “He’s making a move,” Ally’s father said.

  She peeked over Arthur to find her father and mother both shouting and pointing. Never had she imagined that they’d be supporters of rowing. She smiled at them as she focused back on the race.

  Rob and the racer in lane
six were now neck and neck until Rob began creating more distance once they’d reached the one thousand five hundred marker. It was the last five hundred left to row and she could see Rob inching farther and farther ahead of the rest of the racers.

  Then someone behind them screamed, “AUSSIE! AUSSIE! AUSSIE!” when Rob was three-fourths of a boat span in front of second place.

  “OI! OI! OI!” Stevie and Julian chanted.

  Then the crowd got excited in the last one hundred.

  “Come on, Robbie! Finish strong, son!” Arthur shouted.

  But it appeared Rob didn’t need the encouragement, he pushed farther in front until he crossed the finish line …

  First.

  He’d done it.

  Robert Moors was now the Men’s Single Scull World Champion.

  “Oh, my God. He did it,” Ally breathed.

  “My son’s the world champion,” Arthur said in the same unbelievable tone Ally had used.

  She watched Rob punch the water as he realised that he, too, had won. He threw his hands in the air and then turned in the direction of the spectator stands, searching for her.

  “Get down there. Your husband won!” Stevie yelled over the crowd.

  “Husband?” Julian blurted out.

  Ally had no time to explain; she pushed past him and the watchers in the crowd and ran towards the edge of the lake. She was almost a hundred percent since her transplant but even running was a chore. She pushed through the burning in her lungs as she weaved through the mass of people.

  By the time she’d made it to the edge of the lake, Rob had rowed towards the bank and gotten out of the boat. He was shaking hands with the other competitors and then his coach. Then he turned and saw her running towards her. He opened his arms for her and Ally had run into them before he lifted her up and her legs wrapped around him. Though being tangled around him caused her some discomfort, she didn’t care.

  Her hands cupped his face, completely in awe of his achievements. “My husband’s world champion,” she said unbelievably.

  “Love, I’m sweaty,” he stated between his heavy breathing.

  “I honestly don’t care. I’m so proud of you,” she had whispered before her lips pressed against his. Around them, she heard camera shutters as they were photographed. She didn’t care. The love of her life had achieved one of his biggest dreams, and unlike Nationals three months prior, she was there to watch him.

  Rob pulled back. “I’m probably going to drop you. My legs aren’t strong after a race.”

  She laughed and kissed the tip of his nose. “What a honeymoon story that’ll be.”

  Setting her down, his hands cupped her face. “If this is all we have. This is the highlight of my career. You as my wife and our love. If that’s it, I’m content with my life.”

  Ally wrapped her arms around his back and brought his trembling body against hers. “It’s not. See, we have so much more than this. I promise. There’s so much more, Robbie.”

  All the years we have together ahead of us.

  The Olympics.

  Our own children.

  There’s so much left for us, Robbie.

  “God, I love you, Allison,” he breathed and then pressed his forehead to hers. “This was for you.”

  “I love you, Robbie,” she said with all the love in her. “Did you beat the world record?”

  He shook his head and then pulled back. “I’m still not a hundred percent since the transplant, but I’ll beat it.”

  “There’s always Rio,” she offered.

  Rob stepped out of their embrace, staring down at her. “And I’ll have my wife with me when I compete at the Olympics.”

  Ally nodded with a smile. “Deal.”

  Then she reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. She glanced down at her list then began to amend it.

  15. Elope with Rob.

  16. Watch Rob compete at the Rowing World Championship.

  17. Watch your husband become an Olympian.

  Ally peeked up at Rob smiling at the list she’d shown him while she was in the hospital recovering from her kidney transplant. At that moment, she’d decided that the list wouldn’t end at seventeen.

  18. Live a long and happy life with Robert Moors.

  19. Love Robert Moors for far longer than the rest of my life.

  Promises she’d never break. Deals she’d never back on. All she would ever need was him. Her world champion. Her hero. Ally folded her list and returned it and the pen to her pocket as she heard their families coming towards them.

  Rob held her left hand and said, “We should probably tell our families that we’re married.”

  Ally tilted her head up at him and scrunched her nose. “You mean you didn’t ask for my father’s blessing, Mr Moors?”

  He let out a light laugh and kissed her forehead. “Mrs Moors, I would have. But eloping with you is worth the absolute ass kicking I’m about to face.” Then he nodded his head to signal their families were now behind them.

  “Allison O’Connor! You eloped?” her father shouted behind her.

  “Actually …” Ally spun around, squeezing her husband’s hand to assure him that it was the right choice. Then she grinned at her father.

  “It’s Allison Moors.”

  (Julian was here.)

  Secure a job.

  Pay bills.

  Buy a Myki card for public transportation.

  Speak to Dr Fuller.

  Consider dialysis.

  Find a Melbourne doctor.

  Last six months.

  Research whether university could happen someday. Graduate from Monash University.

  When it’s over, seek dialysis treatments. Never need dialysis again!

  If the worse happens, ask to be put on the transplant waiting list.

  If you’re able to, without ever thinking you’re never gonna make it, fall in love someday.

  Never fall in love with a man Rob if you can’t promise him a future.

  Never let your next kiss hurt you the way your last one did. Never let anyone kiss you and take your heart away the moment your lips meet as Rob had.

  If you children someday, never let them have the life you had. Never have children. Have children with Rob someday.

  Elope with Rob.

  Watch Rob compete at the Rowing World Championship.

  Watch your husband become an Olympian.

  Live a long and happy life with Robert Moors.

  Love Robert Moors for far longer than the rest of my life.

  Always be nice to and love my brother-in-law. Make my brother-in-law’s life hell.

  Stop leaving my shit around for Julian to find. Get Julian taken care of.

  Book five in the Thirty-Eight Series.

  Bros before hoes or so the saying goes.

  However, Maxwell Sheridan threw that saying out the window the minute he hooked up with his best friend, Alex’s, poisonous ex. But the moment he slept with her, he was hooked. Sloppy seconds was not his style but she was a cruel addiction he couldn’t overcome. He thought his days of betraying his best friends were behind him. But for Max, he learnt the hard way that history had a way of repeating itself.

  That was until one moment on a bridge would change it all.

  Josephine Faulkner is struggling. Mentally, physically and emotionally. Life has caused her to grow up. Gone are the wild days, black hair and dating men her Ambassador father would never approve of. But juggling work and life has meant that university isn’t high on her priority list.

  When Maxwell Sheridan finds her on a bridge, dropping small stones into the lake, a friendship and connection between them blooms.

  He offers to tutor her.

  She offers him her compassion.

  But their undeniable attraction and friendship will be tested.

  And her name…

  Andrea Wallace.

  COMING SOON

  LATE 2016

  Read on for an excerpt of M
ax and Josie’s upcoming novel.

  Eight months ago

  “You should probably tell him,” one of Maxwell Sheridan’s best friends, Robert Moors, said.

  Max let out a lengthy sigh as he tore his gaze away from Nolan Parker and his new wife as they danced for the first time as man and wife. His best friend was right. Max should tell Noel what had happened in New York, but it happened almost six ago and Noel was now married. And from the smile on his face, Max knew he was happily married. Noel had the dream. Noel had what Max wanted. True love. Someone to love him. He’d never known that kind of love. When he was seventeen, he’d thought he had it. He thought he had true love when he had betrayed one of his best friends and slept with Alex’s girlfriend. Sarah Collins had been the woman he had been infatuated with since Max was eight. He had seen the side of her that she had never let anyone else see. But she had dated Alex, and she was hands off.

  Until one drunken night when Sarah had told him that she and Alex were over. It had been a lie. And for almost seven years, he had kept his deep dark secret from seeing the light. Alex still didn’t know. Max had sworn he’d never betray another one of his best friends again.

  Until I met Andrea.

  The thought had Max wincing. Andrea Wallace had been Noel’s girlfriend. The woman Noel had tried to get over Clara with. It had been a stupid bet. Who could win at golf? An innocent kiss that turned into so much more for him. An attraction they shared but couldn’t act on. She was Noel’s, and Max could only stand by and watch. Andrea had no idea how much her boyfriend was in love with someone else.

  “I’m sure he won’t care,” Rob added.

  Max shifted so that he could see the concerned frown on Rob’s face. “He loved her, Rob. I can’t do that to him. He’s happy and it’s his wedding. I can’t do that.”

  Rob’s brows furrowed and then he shook his head. “You realise that he’s married to Clara, right? He’s married the love of his life. I’m pretty sure Andrea is the least of his concern.”